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Murders in the Zoo (A. Edward Sutherland, 1933)
Feb
20
A couple walks into a room, only to discover a lifeless man and a headless snake. DP: Ernest Haller.
“You don't think I sat there all evening with an eight-foot mamba in my pocket?”
– Eric Gorman
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Madam Satan (Cecil B. DeMille, 1930)
Feb
4
Charles Lindbergh's born
You're cordially invited to Mr. James Wade's “Masquerade”, aboard the Zeppelin – CB – P – 55. Do wear a mask. DP: Harold Rosson.
“I don't want your husband. I want a parachute!”
– Trixie
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The Man Who Laughs (Paul Leni, 1928)
Jan
29
1690
A hand-painted carnival banner reading “URSUS ye Philosopher presents THE LAUGHING MAN. Don't fail to see GWYNPLAINE who was deserted at ye age of ten on ye night of ye 29th of January 1690 by ye Villainous Comprachicos on ye coast of Cornwall. This little boy has grown up and is now known as THE LAUGHING MAN”. DP: Gilbert Warrenton.
“What a lucky clown you are! You don't have to wipe off your laugh.”
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The Monkey Talks (Raoul Walsh, 1927)
Dec
14
Monkey Day
Jocko (Jacques Lerner) in embrace with his Olivette (Olive Borden). Amazingly, Lerner does not wear a mask; it's all the work of makeup craftsman Jack Pierce. DP: L. William O'Connell.
A monkey for (unofficial) Monkey Day.
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White Woman (Stuart Walker, 1933)
Aug
1
“You'll go under like all the others.”
– Judith Denning
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Picture Snatcher (Lloyd Bacon, 1933)
Jun
16
Patricia Nolan (Patricia Ellis) and Danny Kean (James Cagney). DP: Sol Polito.
“That gets it. That little touch of lavender. Am I gonna stink pretty.”
– Danny Kean
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Rain (Lewis Milestone, 1932)
May
13
canned tamales
Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford) looking for canned tamales in the pantry of the island's only convenience store. DP: Oliver T. Marsh.
“We seem to hear the winds of reform whistling down the chimney. Whereas the low hussy frolics off to buy her supper. Where do you keep your canned tamales, partner?”
– Sadie Thompson
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The Unholy Three (Tod Browning, 1925)
May
6
Tweedledee (Harry Earles), Hercules (Victor McLaglen), and Echo – The Ventriloquist (Lon Chaney). DP: David Kesson.
“It's spooky! It sounds… unholy!”
– Echo
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The Unknown (Tod Browning, 1927)
Dec
3
Let's Hug Day
Someone's hugged on Let's Hug Day [sic]. Target girl Nanon (Joan Crawford) hugs her circus partner, Alonzo (Lon Chaney) the knife thrower. Her tight embrace may reveal his secret. DP: Merritt B. Gerstad.
“Men! The beasts! God would show wisdom if he took the hands from all of them!”
– Nanon Zanzi
As mighty as Alonzo may be, the incomparable Lon Chaney owes much to armless violinist and knife thrower “Judge” Paul Desmuke. Story goes that Desmuke taught Chaney his knife act in two months. More probable is that some of the more impressive close-up scenes show the Judge's, not Chaney's, feet.
Like Alonzo, The Unknown has lost some flesh. Until 1968, only mangled bootlegs were available; a complete print was considered non-existent. Five years later, news broke about film reels of unknown origin labelled inconnu – [the] unknown, somewhere in the bowels of the Cinémathèque Française.
Some 14 minutes, outlining the Armless' background, are still missing. Do check your attic.
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Every Day's a Holiday (A. Edward Sutherland, 1937)
Nov
21
National Entrepreneurs Day
Lobbycard. Peaches O'Day (Mae West, dressed by Schiaparelli) hands her business card to yet another sucker. They're on the Brooklyn Bridge, which can be seen in the background. DP: Karl Struss.
In my book, entrepreneur is just a fancy talk for conman. A famous one, the one who may've tried to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge, was George C. Parker. He'd peddle the famous landmark to any hapless rube, immigrant, or sucker who then would promptly erect a little tollbooth to make a fast buck from any hapless rube, immigrant, or sucker.
“Selling the Brooklyn Bridge again, huh?”
– Police captain Jim McCarey
Like Parker, Mae West's Peaches O'Day bamboozles it her way. And boy, does she have a bridge to sell you!
